Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Chirpers.com

Story

What is Chirpers!?

Chirpers.com is a Node-RED based IoT platform. It runs the entire designer in the browser session (even if you are offline) and is specially developed for the web. It has nodes for web-bluetooth, web-usb, and web-midi. You can build full featured IoT applications and connect to other platforms and services.

Best part? Totally free! Just go to the website and sign up!

Hologram Network

Hologram.io is a cellular network provider perfect for makers. At $0.60 /mo plus $0.40 per mb, you'll have plenty of data for most IoT projects. You can get a free SIM card by going to hologram.io and then activate it at dashboard.hologram.io

Wiring

Most GSM modules like the SIM800L will have Power, Ground, RX, and TX. Although you can use certain other pins for SoftwareSerial, it is unstable. Use an Arduino that has extra onboard Serial pins.

For the Arduino Micro wire to Serial1.

If you end up using SoftwareSerial, set the baudrate to 57600, 38400, or 9600 (unstable)

Before inserting the SIM card make sure you are putting it in the right way.